New restrictions on the press coverage of the United States military have been announced, with journalists now required to agree not to publish sensitive information that hasn't been approved by the government for release.
Under the Trump administration's Pentagon, these new rules will require news organisations to agree not to disclose information that the government has not approved for release, or they will face having their Pentagon press credentials revoked.
This came to light in a recent Department of Defense memo, circulated to the press last Friday, and raised immediate concerns about independent journalism and press freedom from the New York Times, Reuters, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the National Press Club President in Washington.
"If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see," National Press Club President Mike Balsamo said in a statement.
At a press conference outside the White House on Sunday, Trump was asked if he believed the Pentagon should be in charge of what the press can report.
"No, I don't think so. Nothing stops reporters," was the response, but nothing specific on the new policy was addressed.
The memo said news organisations will be required to acknowledge that disclosing, accessing or attempting to access sensitive information without authorisation could be grounds for having their Pentagon press credentials denied or revoked.
This would see the organisation or reporter in question lose access to all U.S. military installations, including the Pentagon.
The department also wrote in the 17-page memo that it “remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust”.
